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The phone is a remarkably complex, simple device,
and very rarely ever needs repairs, once you fix them. Dan/Panther

Author
Topic: Mix and match? (Read 204 times)

Off the wall Question: I'm in the process of setting up a Panasonic 616 PBX with a few vintage rotary phones exclusively for intercom use. A few EBay posts have antique intercom phones (Samson, WE, SC) with cool watch case receivers I wouldn't mind adding to the circuit. Does anyone have any experience integrating these? Is that possible? Attached is a photo example of what I'm seeing.Thanks!Mark

Hi Mark.Disclaimer... I don't know those phones.If they are intercoms, they will prob need a voice coil and a CB hook switch to make them a complete phone.Then they shud hook right up.They will have no signal capability, but may ring from the 616.Can you post a pic or two of the insides?That will help.

Thanks. I haven't purchased any yet, so the pix are limited to what they show on EBay. The one I've attached as an example is a Stromberg Carlson intercom phone. The other is a Samson Jr but no inside pictures. I'm pretty sure I could get them to buzz but I'm wondering if I could utilize the call button to be functional in this set up.

Ralph Meyers book has intercom circuits. Some use a 1:1 audio isolation transformer to keep them isolated. This is the type of circuit that MAY work for your application. I think their is a link for a free download of Ralph's book on this forum. If not the book may be on this site or in the TCI library.In the past I posted a link to Ralph's Dreyfuss article. I asked permission and got it, as well as a free download for his book. I couldn't easily find it the link , but it should be on the forum.If anyone finds the free link to Ralphs book, please post it to this thread.Thanks,Jim

Thanks for your help. I figured it was a long shot question to see if anyone matched the two types in one system. I have an older version of the book and reviewed the circuits. If I had an intercom phone already I'd try it, but I'll walk away from bidding on one to integrate at this point.Mark